The 2023 Heytesbury Chardonnay reveals all the poise and balance we expect from the season. It is awesome. This feels totally weighted on the back palate. The fruit intensity, coupled with powerful acidity and phenolic presence, fully penetrates beyond mere "flavor experience" and dives deep into the senses; the only option left is to ride that wave until it slowly fades. It's a persistent, sophisticated wine of latent power and patience. While this is released two years from harvest, it doesn't start to show its complex potential until around five years from harvest and far beyond that. It's slow to emerge and slow to age. This is a 100% Gingin clone Chardonnay, matured in French oak barriques, 52% new, for nine months, with seven months blended in tank prior to bottling. 13% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

The 2023 Heytesbury Chardonnay hails from a pristine vintage in Margaret River. The season was on the cooler side of things but remained very dry and devoid of heat surges. Good weather at flowering meant yields were healthy, and from what I have seen so far, the season seems to have teased the very best from producers right across Western Australia, from all varieties. It truly was "one of those years". Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2023 Chardonnay Heytesbury is powerful yet refined delivering robust layers of preserved lemon and crushed nuts with hints of seabreeze and vanilla-bean oak. The 2023 is particularly approachable, with vibrant pear and ginger flavours to start before nougat and gunflint tones build on the finish. Tangy acidity builds through the close. This is an atypical vintage to enjoy over the medium term. Angus Hughson, Vinous

Region: Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia

Grape Varietal: 100% Chardonnay

Critic Rating: Robert Parker Wine Advocate 97+ Points, Vinous 94 Points

Suggested Drink Window: 2028 - 2043